artJOURNALING daily: a PEEK inside my process

{ a free motion stitched cover of one of my art journals}

play...play...PLAY!...that should be what art journaling is all about. experimenting, exploring, being FREE, no rules and letting go. everyone journals differently and there is no right or wrong way to create in your journals. throughout this year-long blog series I will be sharing creative jumpstarts in a variety of formats..these ideas, words, phrases, questions, photos, typography elements, lists, notes and mixed media techniques are meant to guide you in creating unique pages in your journals. they will not be a page start to finish, they WILL be inspirational. fun. creative. simple. they are intended to inspire your muse. they will push you to explore journaling but in a way that is truly your own. before I start with the journal prompts i thought it would be fun to give you a little background into my art journaling world.

for me art journaling is a mixture of things...my journals, sketchbooks, notebooks and idea books are a compilation of collage, lists, lettering, photos, sketches, paintings, my signature "girlie GLAM" faces, scribbles, notes, stickers, found papers, visual stories and writings. i work in 3-5 books at any given time, they are not done in chronological order, most times i date the pages, so i know when it was created. most of my pages are a work in progress. i work on them multiple times and add to them sporadically, sometimes over a year later. there is no front or back of the book. i open my journal to a page that calls to me and CREATE!

my journals...almost all of my journals are handmade made with a collection of found paper..I HEART brown grocery bags, Peacock construction paper, storybook newsprint, ledger/graph paper, manila folders, watercolor paper and cardboard. I also collect heavy drawing paper, copy paper, newsprint,  envelopes, maps, USPS/Fedex tyvec envelopes, black paper, Asian newspaper and use these for my journal pages. inside my journals i bind random-sized pages most of them have been stained and painted with color and a few that are blank. so even before i start working in the journal, there is something there.. a mark. a color. a line. that inspires the next. another one of my favorite pages to add are black & white photocopies of my original artwork. i do love blank sketchbooks with white pages for taking notes, brainstorming ideas and business planning, so i also own a few Moleskine notebooks and white drawing paper sketchbooks. check out my video art journal tour and photo tour.

my process...is scattered, random, and very free. i go back and forth working inside my journals and on separate sheets of found paper that I will bind or tip into a journal later. i let the colors on the page inspire my marks and doodles. i'll work on multiple pages in a day...adding a small bit to each page. i might scribble on a page with colored pencils, brush or stamp paint another page with color, add colored tape, staple in an inspirational post card, then go to a different page and doodle with black pens or write with dip pen and sumi ink. i add an element of collage to most pages. i draw a lot of faces, my signature "girlie GLAM" doodles and my more detailed "FASHIONista" faces. i cut interesting words/letters, colors, textures from magazines {I only use magazines in my art journals and inspiration boards} sometimes i tear out pages and stitch them into a collage for another journal cover. so you see...nothing is off limits. sometimes i write about my day or i only write a few words, often i write to release my thoughts and emotions but the words are scribbled layers which can't be read but tell a visual story through the lines.

photos..i take photos everyday. usually with my iPhone but I also use a Nikon digital SLR, point & shoot Nikon Coolpix and HD video camera. i love to incorporate photos into my journals..sometimes i stitch...sometimes i glue, tape or staple them in. i print my photos at costco or photo kiosks.  i slightly alter them with paint, pens and sandpaper. i rarely use inkjet photos. but I do add inkjet prints of painted backgrounds and artwork which are bound in as journal pages or i cut them up for collage.

art journaling supplies...here's a photo of the paints, tools, handmade stamps, stencils. for adhesive I use my Collage Pauge, colored masking tape, Tombo & Scotch permanent roller adhesive, staples and my handmade stickers. my brushes are simple..i mostly use foam brushes. for my detailed brush work, i use 00/000 size round brushes and inexpensive craft brushes {you can find these at the craft store for $2.00}. i make all my stamps and most of my stencils. i LOVE letters & typography, so i collect letter stencils and incorporate them into my painted pages. i find alternative painting & mark making tools at the dollar store and collect found objects for stamping. REMEMBER you don't need expensive tools or supplies to be creative!

...and last but not least. I can't talk about art journaling without mentioning markers & pens! i LOVE love all types of pens. the photo above show a little bit of my collection of mark making tools. i will talk about some of them in the prompts, but I really want you to focus on using what you have and what you LOVE. the basic things you'll need for your art journal are paper, a few pens, paint, brushes and adhesive but most of all the willingness to PLAY and explore!

so you see...an art journal can be whatever you want it to be. i hope you are as excited as i am to embark on this creative journey. my artJOURNALING daily posts will appear 3-5 times a week on different days and times...so follow along! don't forget to join the artJOURNALING daily flickr group to share your creations and grab a blog button to show that you are participating.

happy art journaling in 2011!! xo~treiC

Comments

[Johoanna]

Thanks for sharing more about your journalling process. I've added a button to my blog, and I'm ready to play.

[Zura]

I'd love to hear how you bind your journals. I'd love to use found papers but only know how to bind signatures so I'd like to learn to bind single pages.

[bonnierose]

so ready to learn more from you and add even more color and flavor to my own art.. love you! xo so happy to be participating!

[MissKoolAid]

Looking forward to your prompts and inspirations.
Sophie

[andrea]

traci! thanks for all the details and it's day 1, what a great series. no excuses now, you will keep us inspired in 2011.

[Jessica Watson]

Hi Traci! Happy new year! I grabbed a button for my blog and I'm looking forward to the inspiration and prompts for art journaling in a fun and free spirited way! Thanks!

[Linda Cash (serendipitous947)]

Hi Traci! I have grabbed a button for my new blog and am looking forward to all your wonderful inspirational prompts. Many thanks.

[leslie alterman]

Hi Traci! Just wanted to let you know I am reading. Love you, love your blog. I too, am very into art journaling and I have committed to journaling everyday. I am REALLY enjoying the process and doing art daily. Thanks for your prompts, suggestions, peeks and creativity.
It is inspiring. Just thought you might like to know.
Blessings.
Leslie

[Iceoriginals1]

Hi Traci! Love your style of art...so much better and more vibrant than the vintage look that is so prevalent right now...I just love the bright and cheery colors and you have inspired me so much nin my own artistic endeavors! I had heart bypass surgery 3 years ago, and journaling has really helped me to deal with the feelings of mortality that one feels when you are faced with the fact that you really are mortal and could die at any time...Thank you for what you do!

Laura Thykeson

[Traci Bautitsa]

Hi everyone!! Thanks so much for your kind words, for reading and participating in artJOURNALING daily. Looking forward to seeing and sharing all your beautiful art!

@zura..I will definitely talk about my art journal bindings

[Laura Thykeson]

LOVE your style and hope to learn more from you! You are really inspiring me to break out and explore the use of color more than I ever have! I have your button on my blog at:

http://tazscorner1.blogspot.com/

I would be honored if you visited!

[RosieRowe]

This is my fave post of yours so far! Outstanding - I am feeling the buzz!! =)